Goldman Sachs was founded in 1869 and is one of the most prestigious investment banks in the world. In 2025, Goldman Sachs received more than 360,000 job applications for its summer internship (which accepts 2,600 people), which made its acceptance rates less than 1%.2 This is more competitive than all of the Ivy League institutions, including Harvard.2 This guide explains how to get a job at Goldman Sachs in 2025 by breaking down the application and interview processes, the firm’s culture, and the career opportunities that are available.
If your goal is to work at Goldman Sachs, you’re aiming for a career with some of the highest compensation levels in the finance industry.3 This being said, the firm is also known for demanding hours and an extremely fast-paced environment. This article offers practical advice to help you navigate the process and increase your chances of landing a role at Goldman Sachs.
Goldman Sachs: Company Background
Goldman Sachs was founded in 1869 and is now one of the world’s largest and most influential investment banks. Headquartered in Lower Manhattan, it operates across four main business segments: Investment Banking, Global Markets, Asset & Wealth Management, and Consumer & Wealth Management. As of 2025, Goldman Sachs employs approximately 46,500 people worldwide, which is a 2.65% increase from the previous year.1 The growth of the business indicates that if you are interested in exploring employment opportunities at Goldman Sachs, now is a great time to do so.
How to Get a Job at Goldman Sachs
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t explicitly need a finance degree to get hired at Goldman Sachs. The firm values candidates that have diverse academic backgrounds, which includes majors in topics like history, biology, and English, along with traditional fields like finance, economics, and accounting. What matters most to the firm is that you can demonstrate that you have strong analytical skills, adaptability, and the ability to solve complex problems.
Work experience and community involvement are also important to the company. Goldman Sachs recruiters tend to look for people who can balance multiple responsibilities and work collaboratively. Internships, volunteer experience, or jobs at well-known companies, even if they are outside of finance, will help strengthen your application.
One of the most effective ways to get hired at Goldman Sachs is through the firm’s internship programs. Goldman Sachs runs competitive 10-week summer internships and apprenticeships that often serve as direct pipelines to eventual full-time offers.
How Hard Is It to Land a Job at Goldman Sachs?
Getting hired at Goldman Sachs is extremely competitive. For internships alone, in 2025 more than 360,000 people applied for spots at the prestigious bank, and they accepted less than 1% of these applicants.4 This type of internship is one of the toughest and most coveted positions in the industry, and can set your career on a path towards soaring success.
Because of this level of competition, candidates should prepare thoroughly for every single stage of the application process. Successful applicants typically start by researching the firm’s business lines in depth, practice case studies and behavioral interview questions, and refine their technical skills so they are expertly relevant to the role they are applying to.
Goldman Sachs recruiters emphasize authenticity during interviews. Overly rehearsed or generic answers are easy to spot, and interviewers are looking for candidates who can communicate clearly, think critically, and show genuine enthusiasm for the work.
Applying for a Job at Goldman Sachs
Going into this, it’s important to keep in mind that the Goldman Sachs application and interview processes require a significant time commitment. To get started, visit the Goldman Sachs Careers portal, where you can apply to student programs, internships, and full-time jobs.
Your CV and cover letter should be tailored specifically to Goldman Sachs, and even more specifically to the individual jobs that you are applying to. Emphasize why you are interested in working for the firm rather than another investment bank, and highlight skills or experiences that align with the specific role you’re pursuing. Recruiters expect clear, well-structured applications that demonstrate both your technical knowledge and strong communication skills.
Candidates should also research Goldman Sachs’ services and client base before applying. Reading the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, or other leading financial publications can help you understand any current market trends in the industry you are applying to. Because Goldman Sachs serves clients across industries and geographies, staying well-rounded in global news and events is also an advantage.
Goldman Sachs Application and Interview Process
At Goldman Sachs, you can apply either as a student or as a professional with work experience through the company’s online careers portal. While every role is unique, the process typically follows these general steps:
- Choose your program or job opening. Browse the Goldman Sachs Careers portal to select the program or job you want to apply for.
- Connect with GS. Attend a virtual or in-person event through My GS Events, which helps candidates to learn more about the firm’s culture and opportunities.
- Submit your application. Complete your online application carefully and make sure that it reflects why you want to work at Goldman Sachs. Keep the application checklist handy to avoid missing any required details.
- First-round interview. Selected applicants are invited to a 30-minute video interview. For technical positions, candidates may also be asked to complete a HackerRank assessment or another similar coding challenge.
- Superday. Finalists are invited to an in-person “Superday,” which is a series of back-to-back interviews at a Goldman Sachs office (or potentially online, depending on the position). This stage often includes both technical and behavioral questions.
Goldman Sachs is known for incorporating behavioral questions into its interviews. This could be asking candidates to explain how they’ve handled specific situations in the past, what they are looking for in their next role, and how they see themselves contributes to the team they are interviewing with. Interviewers expect applicants to demonstrate both technical knowledge and an understanding of the firm’s current priorities, including how Goldman Sachs stock is performing and how its business lines are evolving.
What It’s Like to Work at Goldman Sachs
Inclusivity
Despite its reputation as an elite Wall Street firm, Goldman Sachs has invested heavily in building an inclusive workplace. Employees have access to more than 80 affinity networks, including groups that support women, Black professionals, veterans, and LGBTQ+ employees.
Work-Life Balance
Working at Goldman Sachs is demanding, and the hours can be long, especially in investment banking and trading roles. On Indeed, employees rate the firm’s work-life balance at 3.2 out of 5, while overall company culture scores 3.7.7
Family-Friendly Culture
Goldman Sachs offers benefits that are designed to support families, including up to 20 weeks of paid parental leave for all parents, adoption assistance, and backup childcare programs at most major offices. The New York headquarters also provides on-site childcare facilities, which is a better perk than many other corporations have as of 2025.
Perks and Benefits
Employees enjoy a variety of perks from the company, ranging from wellness initiatives such as meditation and fitness classes to access to industry leaders through the firm’s speaker series.
Goldman Sachs Career Opportunities: Job Titles and Descriptions
Goldman Sachs offers a wide range of roles for early-career professionals, from finance to engineering. Below are examples of common entry-level and associate positions. Salary ranges reflect data reported by Glassdoor and Goldman Sachs Careers as of 2025.
First Year Analyst
- Salary: Approx. $144,000 total comp (including base + bonus)8
- Benefits: Medical and dental coverage, retirement savings plans, paid time off, flexible and hybrid work options, fitness stipends
- Level: Entry
- Required Experience: Internships in finance or investment banking
- Required Education: Final-year undergraduate or graduate students from any field of study
The full-time Analyst position is for students after their final year of study. It provides hands-on training, exposure to clients, and opportunities to build professional networks. Many full-time analysts begin their careers through Goldman Sachs’ summer internship pipeline.
Software Engineer
- Salary: $143,000 – $201,000 total pay (including base + bonus)9
- Benefits: Health and dental insurance, paid time off, retirement planning, hybrid work opportunities, wellness programs
- Level: Associate
- Required Experience: Up to six years of experience
- Required Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s in Computer Science, Financial Engineering, or related fields
Software engineers help to design and build trading platforms, risk management systems, and consumer banking applications.
Business Intelligence Analyst
- Salary: $100,000 – $162,000 total pay (including base + bonus)10
- Benefits: Healthcare and wellness programs, retirement plans, hybrid work options, professional development funding
- Level: Associate/Management
- Required Experience: 3–5 years in analytics, risk, or IT security roles
- Required Education: Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Cybersecurity, or related field
BI analysts in this track focus on data-driven insights for risk management, technology security, and business strategy. Responsibilities include software architecture reviews, identifying system flaws, and providing advisory services.
Product Manager
- Salary: $153,000 – $225,000 total compensation (including base + bonus)11
- Benefits: Comprehensive healthcare, 401(k) with matching, flexible work arrangements, professional development resources
- Level: Associate/Senior Associate
- Required Experience: 4–6 years in product management, consulting, or related fields
- Required Education: Bachelor’s degree; MBA preferred for senior roles
Product managers lead the strategy and development of Goldman Sachs’ digital products, from trading platforms to consumer banking apps. They work closely with engineering and business teams to deliver client-focused solutions.
Cybersecurity Analyst
- Salary: $99,000 – $162,000 total pay (including base + bonus)12
- Benefits: Healthcare coverage, paid time off, retirement plans, tuition assistance
- Level: Associate
- Required Experience: 1–5 years in IT security, threat detection, or network defense
- Required Education: Degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or related technical fields
Cybersecurity analysts protect Goldman Sachs’ systems and data from any cyber threats. Their responsibilities include risk assessments, monitoring, incident response, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
What Does It Take to Get a Job at Goldman Sachs?
Landing a job at Goldman Sachs requires a lot more than just having technical expertise. Successful candidates typically have a combination of strong academic performance, relevant work experience, and the ability to communicate clearly under pressure. Recruiters look for people who can demonstrate confidence, problem-solve under pressure, and have a genuine interest in the firm’s work.
Applicants should invest time in tailoring their CVs and cover letters to the specific jobs that they are applying to, even within the Goldman Sachs network. If you are applying to two separate jobs, you should have two separate CVs and cover letters that are tailored to the individual roles. Generic applications rarely stand out in Goldman Sachs’ highly selective process. In order to succeed here, you should highlight all of your measurable achievements, such as leading a project, improving a process, or contributing to a team’s success, rather than just listing your previous responsibilities.
Interview preparation is also critical for success in obtaining a role in this competitive space. Candidates should expect both technical and behavioral questions during interviews and must be ready to discuss the financial markets, Goldman Sachs’ business lines, and any current economic trends in the broader market. For any technical roles with the company, coding tests or case studies are also common during interviews.
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Goldman Sachs hires thousands of people each year, but the competition is intense. Considering that the firm receives hundreds of thousands of applications, persistence, preparation, and authenticity are all key to success in getting that offer.
How to Get a Job at Goldman Sachs FAQ
As of the end of 2025, Goldman Sachs had employed approximately 46,500 people globally, which was a 2.65 percent increase compared to the year prior.5 These roles range from analysts and engineers to risk managers and investment advisors.
Goldman Sachs is headquartered in New York City. The firm also operates regional headquarters in London, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Bangalore, along with more than 40 additional offices worldwide.6
Internships at Goldman Sachs are extremely competitive. For the 2025 internship cohort, there were over 360,000 applications and a 0.7% acceptance rate. Demand for these interns has remained strong and applications are rising year over year.2,4
References
- https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/GS/goldman-sachs/number-of-employees
- https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/goldman-sachs-internship-acceptance-harder-than-harvard/493960
- https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Goldman-Sachs-Salaries-E2800.htm
- https://fortune.com/2025/06/16/goldman-sachs-internship-summer-analysts-wall-street-tpg-olaplex-red-lobster/
- https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/GS/goldman-sachs/number-of-employees
- https://www.goldmansachs.com/our-firm/locations
- https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Goldman-Sachs/reviews
- https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Goldman-Sachs-First-Year-Analyst-Salaries-E2800_D_KO14,32.htm
- https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Goldman-Sachs-Software-Engineer-Salaries-E2800_D_KO14,31.htm
- https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Goldman-Sachs-BI-Analyst-Salaries-E2800_D_KO14,24.htm
- https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Goldman-Sachs-Product-Manager-Salaries-E2800_D_KO14,29.htm
- https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Goldman-Sachs-Cyber-Security-Analyst-Salaries-E2800_D_KO14,36.htm
- https://www.businessinsider.com/goldman-sachs-ceo-hiring-personality-traits-job-candidates-applications-2024-8
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